White Wizzard are a young U.S. metal band making their debut with Over the Top and when I looked at that cool cover art I knew it this was going to be an awesome album. For those who don't know, this band plays Heavy Metal that is not unlike Twisted Tower Dire or early Iron Maiden with the same energy and conviction. And while this has strong influences from those band, this group has a sound of their own, for one the band seems to rip it out and rarely holding back.

The record start with one of the best songs that I've heard in a long time in the title track. Catchy beyond belief with a huge and memorable chorus, it is an accurate representation of what this album has to offer. That is not the only song that is great, tracks like "Live Free or Die Hard" and "Iron Goddess of Vengeance" can give the title song a run for its money. Although it has its moments, Over the Top isn't really a fast album but when you put the quality and consistency of those songs it really doesn't matter. Lyrically they can improve a bit but being this a True Metal album that is something that I'm willing to overlook.

These guys are very good musicians, the songwriting ideas are well executed here. The tightness of their playing is impressive; you won't be hearing any mistakes. The guitars are heavy with catchy riffs and piercing soloing, the bass is loud enough to notice it but is not distracting and the drumming is exactly what you expect from a band of the genre. And while every band member is a capable player, the thing that makes this band go is the wailing vocals of Wyatt "Screamin' Demon" Anderson. The man is simply amazing, not since Iuri Samson had I heard a new singer that commanded so much attention.

The only real flaw here is the two covers that are present on the limited edition. They sound badly out of place and it feels like an entire different band recorded them. Still the originals are what counts and in that department White Wizzard deliver with excellence. Over the Top doesn't invent anything and isn't revolutionary in any way but it is one of the best albums I've heard so far in 2010. To my surprise they are on the mostly Death Metal label Earache and hopefully they will do a great job in promoting this band. In the end you should get this album as 80's styled Heavy Metal can't get better than this.